Cabinets and disappearing treadle mechanism for sewing machines



Oct. 22, 1968 H. J. MILAN E AL 3,407,014

CABINETS AND DISAPPEARING TREADLE MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES FiledAug. 25, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet l Henry J. Milan William G. Hauser TORNEYINVENTORS Oct. 22, 1968 H. .1. MILAN ET AL 3,407,014

CABINETS AND DISAPPEARING TREADLE MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES FiledAug. 25, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Henry J. Milan William G.Hauser WINES? BY ndi TM; W Emma" Oct. 22, 1968 H. J. MILAN ET AL3,407,014

CABINETS AND DISAPPEARING TREADLE MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES FiledAug. 25, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Henry J. Milan William G.Hauser flosa H W ATTORNEY Witness United States Patent ()1 ice 3,407,014Patented Oct. 22, 1968 3,407,014 CABINETS AND DISAPPEARING TREADLEMECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Henry J. Milan, Clark, and William G.Hauser, Fanwood, N.J., assignors to The Singer Company, New York, 'N.Y.,a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 575,064 16Claims. (Cl. 31221) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cabinet for a sewingmachine including a disappearing treadle mechanism comprising a bandwheel support mounted on the cabinet, a treadle support pivotallyconnected to the band wheel support and a mounting bracket on thecabinet constructed and arranged to pivotally and removably mount theband wheel support and the treadle support when they are folded togetherand pivoted upwardly into a recess provided in the bottom of thecabinet.

vThis invention relates to cabinets and disappearing treadle mechanismsfor sewing machines and more particularly to means for removablymounting a foldable treadle mechanism in a sewing machine cabinet inboth an unfolded operating position and in a folded and concealednonoperating position.

Only three types of furniture are now being manufactured fortreadle-driven sewing machines. The three types are: 1) a table, (2) abox-shaped cabinet, and (3) .a table having a compartment at one sidewhich houses a band wheel and a treadle when the treadle is folded upinto a vertical position against the band wheel. The treadle mechanismis inherently unsightly. No matter how well designed, one cannot hidethe fact that it is machinery. Thus, an unconcealed treadle mechanism isincompatible with modern furnishings. Of the aforementioned three typesof furniture now being manufactured for treadle-driven sewing machines,it is impossible to conceal a treadle mechanism in a table. A treadlemechanism can be concealed in a box-shaped cabinet or a table having acompartment at one side. However, like a table, a box-shaped cabinet anda table having a compartment at one side are inherently notcomplementary with modern furnishings. Most likely, the sewing machinewill be hidden away in a spare room to be laboriously dragged out onlywhen most urgently desired for use.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a cabinet for atreadle-driven sewing machine in which the cabinet is complementary withmodern furnishings and in which the treadle mechanism can be concealedwhen in a nonoperating position.

. Anoher object of the invention is to provide a cabinet for atreadle-driven sewing machine in accordance with the foregoing object inwhich the cabinet resembles a cabinet for an electrically driven sewingmachine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for mounting afoldable treadle mechanism in a sewing machine cabinet in both anunfolded operating position and in a folded and concealed nonoperatingposition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for mounting afoldable treadle mechanism in a sewing machine cabinet in accordancewith the foregoing object in which the treadle mechanism is readilyremovabl from the cabinet.

The objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a drop headcabinet having an enclosed portion which is supported table-like by asupport structure. The enclosed portion of the cabinet has a recess inthe bottom. The support structure may include legs at each end of theenclosed portion of the cabinet. The front of the enclosed portion ofthe cabinet may be formed from four substantially rectangular woodenpanels which abut each other with their grains oriented in acomplementary pattern. The front of the enclosed portion of the cabinetcan be swung open degrees in a conventional manner to support a leafwhen the leaf is unfolded 180 degrees from the top of the cabinet. I

The treadle mechanism includes a treadle and support which can be foldedclockwise, as viewed from the front of the cabinet, upwardly into avertical position against a band wheel and support. The foregoing foldedtreadle mechanism can in turn be folded clockwise upwardly into ahorizontal position in the recess in the bottom of the enclosed portionof the cabinet, or removed from the cabinet and stored in some otherplace. The invention particularly includes means for pivotally andremovably mounting the band wheel support on the cabinet and means forsupporting the free end of the folded treadle mechanism in the recess inthe bottom of the enclosed portion of the cabinet. H

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a sewing machine and cabinetincorporating a disappearing treadle mechanism of the invention shown inoperating position;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the sewing machine, the cabinet,and the disappearing treadle mechanism of FIG. 1 shown in nonoperatingposition; 7 FIG. 3 is a front perspective view partially exploded of thedisappearing treadle mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2 and the means forremovably attaching it to the cabinet; and

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the disappearing treadle mechanismfolded for storage in a closet, for example. With reference to thedrawings, the invention includes a drop head cabinet indicated generallyat 10, a sewing machine 11 mounted on the cabinet, and a treadlemechanism indicated generally at 12. The foregoing three components willbe described structurally while they are primarily in operatingposition.

The cabinet 10 includes an enclosed portion 13 and a support structure15. The support structure includes legs 16 which support the enclosedportion of the cabinet.

The enclosed portion 13 of the cabinet includes a top 17, a rear wall18, side walls 20 and 21, a truncated front wall 22, and a door 23 onthe front of the enclosed portion. Together, the foregoing sixcomponents enclose the enclosed portion of the cabinet while leaving arecess 25 in the bottom of the enclosed portion. The door is connectedto the front end of the left side wall 20 by a vertical hinge 26 whichis secured to the door and the side wall by screws 27. When opened 180degrees, the door supports a leaf 28 which is connected to the top 17 ofthe cabinet by a horizontal hinge 29. The horizontal hinge is secured tothe leaf and the top of the cabinet by screws 32. Covering the front ofthe door are four panels 33, the grains of which are oriented to form acomplementary design. A knob 34 is centered on the front of the door.

A partition 35 is mounted inside the enclosed portion 13 of the cabinetto separate the recess 25 in the bottom of the enclosed portion from thesewing machine when the sewing machine is dropped down into the enclosedportion in a conventional manner. The sewing machine is also connectedto the top 17 of the cabinet in a conventional manner. Included on thesewing machine is a handwheel 37 having a V-groove 38 for a V-belt 39.

3 The treadle mechanism 12 includes a treadle 40, a treadle supportindicated generally at 42, a band wheel 43, and a band wheel supportindicated generally at 44. The band wheel support 44 includes aninverted U-shaped tubular structure 45 having a top crossbar 46 and apair of arms 47 and 50. The bottom portions 51 and 52 of the arms 47 and50, respectively, are curved upwardly 180 degrees into a plane ofrsettoward the treadle 40 and parallel to the plane of the U-shaped tubularstructure 45. A cover 53 having notches 54 houses the upturned portionsof the arms. The cover is connected to the upturned portions 51 and 52of the arms by a hinge pin 55 which spans the upturned portions of thearms and is threaded at each end to receive hexagonal nuts 56. Mountedon the top rear of the top crossbar 46 of the U-shaped tubular structureby a pair of screws 57 is a bracket 58 with an extension 59. A clamp 61is connected to the extension by a screw 62. The clamp grasps thetreadle support when the treadle support 42 is folded against the bandwheel support 44. Also included on the bracket is a lateral extension 63having a slot 64 which is a belt guide. At an intermediate portion ofthe U-shaped tubular structure 45, horizontal tubular crossbars 65 and66 extend from the arms 47 and 50, respectively, to suspend a horizontalsleeve 67 midway between the arms. An axle 69 is journaled in thesleeve.

The band wheel 43 has a hub 70 with a bore 71 by which it is mounted onthe axle 69. The band wheel is locked on the axle by a setscrew 72.Formed in the circumference of the band wheel is a V-groove 73 whichreceives the V-belt 39 from the sewing machine. An eccentric hub 74 ismounted on the band wheel with a bore 76 parallel to the bore in the hub70. Mounted in the bore in the eccentric hub 74 is a crankpin 77.

The treadle support 42 includes a U-shaped tubular structure 78 with theend portions 79 and 80 of the arms 83 and 84, respectively, bentupwardly degrees substantially perpendicular to the plane of theU-shaped tubular structure 78. Bores 85 and 86 are formed in theupturned portions 79 and 80, respectively, of the arms to pivotallymount the treadle support 42 on the hinge pin 55 which spans theupturned portions 51 and 52 of the arms of the band wheel support 44.The notches 54 in the cover 53 which houses the upturned portions 50 and51 of the arms 47 and 50, respectively, of the band wheel support 44provide clearance for the upturned portions 79 and 80 of the arms 83 and84, respectively, of the treadle support when the treadle support 42 isfolded against the band wheel support. The treadle support 42 issupported by four grommets 88 on the undersides of the arms 83 and 84 ofthe U-shaped tubular structure. Mounted on the top of the front arm 83of the U-shaped tubular structure are a pair of opposed brackets 89 and90. The brackets support opposed trunnions 92 and 94, respectively,which are threaded so as to be held on the brackets by nuts 95 and 96,respectively, connected to the brackets.

The treadle 40 has end plates 97 and 99 connected to each end by screws100 and 101, respectively. The end plates have bores 102 and 103,respectively, by which the treadle is pivotally mounted on the trunnions92 and 94, respectively, of the treadle support 42. At the right rear ofthe treadle is a bracket 104 which is connected to the treadle by screws106. The bracket has an upwardly projecting ear 107 with a bore 108 inwhich is journaled a bifurcated swivel 109. Pivotally held between thearms 111 and 112 of the bifurcated swivel by a pivot screw113 is aconnecting rod 114. The connecting rod has a strap 116 at the other endwhich embraces the crankpin 77 on the band wheel 43 to transform rockingmotion of the treadle into rotary motion of the band wheel.

In order to removably and pivotally mount the treadle mechanism 12 onthe cabinet 10, a mounting bracket 119 is connected to the inside of theright side wall 21 by 4. screws 120. The mounting bracket is formed fromsheet metal with a pair of integral lugs 121 and 123, an integral shelf124, a pair of integral ears 125 and 126, and an integral projection128. The lugs have notches in their tops which serve as hooks 129 and130, respectively. The top crossbar 46 of the band wheel support 44 isheld by the hooks 129 and 130 to suspend the band wheel support from themounting bracket 119. The band wheel support is removably held on thehooks by a latch 131 which is pivotally mounted on the shelf 124 by ascrew 132. The latch has an integral upwardly projecting handle 136which is formed by twisting the end of the latch 90 degrees and bendingit upwardly 90 degrees.

In order to guide the band wheel support 44 and maintain it in avertical position, a U-shaped guide member or hanger 137 is pivotallyconnected to the ears 125 and 126 by screws 138. Integral tabs or stops140 (of which only one is shown) on the ears, prevent the hanger frompivoting'beyond a substantially vertical position. Notches 141 and 143are formed in the hanger to seat the intermediate tubular crossbars 65and 66, respectively, of the band wheel support 44. A retainer spring144 is connected to the hanger by a screw 145 and held against rotationby a bent end portion 146 which seats in an anchor hole 147 in thehanger. The free end portion 149 of the retainer spring 144 books underthe rear intermediate crossbar 66 of the band wheel support to provide asliding means for retaining the hanger 137 with the band wheel supportwhen the band wheel support is pivoted on the hooks 129 and 130. A hole150 in the hanger and a small protuberance 151 on the integralprojection 128 on the mounting bracket 119 retain the hanger when thehanger is pivoted substantially 180 degrees upwardly into a storageposition, for instance, when the treadle mechanism 12 is not mounted onthe cabinet 10.

In order to support the free end of the treadle mechanism 12 when thetreadle mechanism is folded upwardly into the recess 25 in the bottom ofthe enclosed portion 13 of the cabinet, an L-shaped supporting bracket153 is connected to the inside of the left side wall 20 by a pair ofscrews 154. A latch 157 is pivotally connected to the supporting bracketby a shoulder screw 158 with a bore 159 in the latch journaled on theshoulder 160 of the shoulder screw. An integral tab or stop 161 in thesupporting bracket prevents the latch from moving beyond a latchedposition. A torsion spring 162 is mounted on the shoulder screw 158 withone end portion 163 held in an anchor hole 164 in the supporting bracketand the other end portion 166 held in a notch 167 in the side of thelatch to bias the latch in the latched position. The latch has a hook168 which hooks under the rear arm 50 of the U-shaped tubular structure45 of the band wheel support 44 when the treadle mechanism 12 is foldedupwardly into the recess 25 in the bottom of the enclosed portion 13 ofthe cabinet. A horizontal handle 169 projects from the latch 157.

In operation, when it is desired to conceal the treadle mechanism 12 innonoperating position, the treadle 40 and support 42 are foldedclockwise upwardly against the band wheel 43 and support 44. Theforegoing folded treadle mechanism is then in turn folded clockwiseupwardly into a horizontal position in the recess 25 in the bottom ofthe enclosed portion 13 of the cabinet 10 to be held there by the hook168 on the pivoted latch 157 of the supporting bracket 153. When thedoor 23 is closed after the sewing machine has been dropped down intothe enclosed portion 13 of the cabinet and the leaf 28 has been foldedback degrees onto the top 17 of the cabinet, the treadle mechanism 12 iscompletely hidden from view, and the cabinet 10 resembles any otherpiece of fine furniture.

If it is desired to remove the folded treadle mechanism 12 from thecabinet 10 and store it in some other place, all that has to be done isto pivotally release the latch 131 on the mounting bracket 119 and liftthe treadle mechanism from thehooks 129 and.130 on the mounting bracket.

Although the inventionhas been described in its preferred form with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form has been made by way of example andthat numerous changes in the details of construction and the combinationand arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from thespirit and the scope of the invention.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what is claimedherein is:

1. A cabinet and disappearing treadle mechanism for a sewing machinecomprising, in combination, a support structure, an enclosed portionhaving a recess in the bottom and supported by the support structure, aband wheel support, means on the band wheel support for mounting theband wheel support on the cabinet, a band wheel, means for rotatablymounting the band wheel on the band wheel support, a treadle support, atreadle, means for pivotally mounting the treadle on the treadlesupport, means for pivotally connecting the treadle support to the bandwheel support, means for connecting the treadle to the band wheel sothat rocking motion of the treadle will rotate the band wheel, means onthe cabinet for pivotally and removably mounting the band wheel support,and means for supporting the free end of the band wheel support and thetreadle support when they are folded together and pivoted upwardly intothe recess in the enclosed portion of the cabinet.

2. A cabinet for a sewing machine treadle mechanism having a band wheelsupport, means on the band wheel support for mounting the band wheelsupport on the cabinet, a band wheel, means for rotatably mounting theband wheel on the band wheel support, a treadle support, a treadle,means for pivotally mounting the treadle on the treadle support, meansfor pivotally connecting the treadle support to the band wheel support,and means for connecting the treadle to the band wheel so that rockingmotion of the treadle will rotate the band wheel, said cabinetcomprising a support structure, an enclosed portion having a recess inthe bottom and supported by the support structure, means on the cabinetfor pivotally and removably mounting the band wheel support, and meansfor supporting the free end of the band wheel support and the treadlesupport when they are folded together and pivoted upwardly into therecess in the enclosed portion of the cabinet.

3. The cabinet of claim 2 in which the means for supporting the free endof the band wheel support and the treadle support when they are foldedtogether and pivoted upwardly into the recess in the enclosed portion ofthe cabinet includes a supporting bracket connected to the cabinet,pivot means on the supporting bracket, a latch connected to the pivotmeans on the supporting bracket,

and a hook member on the latch to support the free end of the band wheelsupport and the treadle support when they are folded together andpivoted upwardly into the recess in the enclosed portion of the cabinet.

4. The cabinet of claim 3 in which the supporting bracket has stop meansfor limiting the pivotal movement of the latch into the latcheddirection and means for biasing the latch in the latched direction.

5. The cabinet of claim 2 in which the means on the cabinet forpivotally and removably mounting the band wheel support includes amounting bracket connected to the cabinet, hook means projecting fromthe mounting bracket and supporting the band wheel by the means on theband wheel support for mounting the band wheel support on the cabinet,and latch means for removably retaining the band wheel support on thehook means.

6. The cabinet of claim 5 in which the means for supporting the free endof the band wheel support and the treadle support when they are foldedtogether and pivoted upwardly into the recess in the enclosed portion ofthe cabinet includes a supporting bracket connected to the cabinet,pivot means on the supporting bracket, a latch connected to the pivotmeans on the supporting bracket, and a hook member on the latch tosupport the free end of the band wheel support and the treadle supportwhen they are folded together and pivoted upwardly into the recess inthe enclosed portion of the cabinet.

7. The cabinet of claim 6 in which the supporting bracket has stop meansfor limiting the pivotal movement of the latch into the latcheddirection and means for biasing the latch in the latched direction.

8. The cabinet of claim 5 in which the mounting bracket includes pivotmeans and a guide member connected to the pivot means for maintainingthe band wheel support in a substantially vertical position when theband wheel support is pivoted into operating position on the hook means.

9. The cabinet of claim 8 in which the means for supporting the free endof the band wheel support and the treadle support when they are foldedtogether and pivoted upwardly into the recess in the enclosed portion ofthe cabinet includes a supporting bracket connected to the cabinet,pivot means on the supporting bracket, a latch connected to the pivotmeans on the supporting bracket, and a hook member on the latch tosupport the free end of the band wheel support and the treadle supportwhen they are folded together and pivoted upwardly into the recess inthe enclosed portion of the cabinet.

10. The cabinet of claim 9 in which the supporting bracket has stopmeans for limiting the pivotal movement of the latch into the latcheddirection and means for biasing the latch in the latched direction.

11. The cabinet of claim 8 which includes retainer means for entrainingthe guide member with the band wheel support when the band wheel supportis pivoted on the hook means.

12. The cabinet of claim 8 in which the guide member is U-shaped withits free ends connected to the pivot means and a retainer spring isconnected to the guide member and hooked over a portion of the bandwheel support to maintain the guide member with the band wheel supportin all positions of the band wheel support from operating position tononoperating position.

13. The cabinet of claim 2 in which the means on the cabinet forpivotally and removably mounting the band wheel support includes amounting bracket connected to the cabinet, hook means projecting fromthe mounting bracket and supporting the band wheel support by the meanson the band wheel support for mounting the band wheel support on thecabinet, a shelf projecting from the bracket, pivot means on the shelf,a latch connected to the pivot means on the shelf for removablyretaining the band wheel support on the hook means, a pair of carsprojecting from the mounting bracket, pivot means on the ears, and aguide member connected to the pivot means on the ears for maintainingthe band wheel support in a substantially vertical position when theband wheel support is pivoted into operating position on the hook means.

14. The cabinet of claim 13 which includes retainer means for entrainingthe guide member with the band wheel support when the band wheel supportis pivoted on the hook means.

15. The cabinet of claim 13 in which the guide member is U-shaped withits free ends connected to the pivot means and a retainer spring isconnected to the guide member and hooked over a portion of the bandwheel support to maintain the guide member with the band wheel supportin all positions of the band wheel support from operating position tononoperating position.

16. The cabinet of claim 13 in which the mounting bracket, the hookmeans, the shelf, and the ears are formed integral with each other froma single sheet of metal.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED FOREIGN PATENTSSTATES PATENTS 48,451 11/ 1909 Switzerland. Kundtz et a1 Germany. g gg 35 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner. Jackson 31221 XR J L. KOHNEN,Assistant Examiner.

